Letters to the Editor

Make more in America again

When we look back at the history of the Industrial Revolution in America, we see that it brought over 100 years of jobs and prosperity to the United States.

The Industrial Revolution in America saw many inventions that improved the lives of the American people. In 1769, James Wall developed the steam engine, which allowed factories, trains and steamboats to manufacture or transport large amounts of goods across America. In 1774, Eli Whitney created the cotton gin, which reduced the time needed to clean cotton for commercial use. In 1844, Samuel Morse invented the telegraph machine, which allowed people to communicate with each other much more easily and quickly. In 1846, Elias Howe invented the sewing machine, which allowed clothing to be mass produced in a factory setting. In 1855, Henry Bessemer invented the method of making steel out of iron. In 1876, Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone, which changed the way people communicate. In 1879, Thomas Edison created the light bulb, which allowed people to do things at night that they could normally only do during daylight hours.

These are just a few examples of inventions that helped expand the Industrial Revolution in America. During the last 40 years we began to outsource too much of our manufacturing to foreign countries and then imported the products back for sale in the United States. Today, thousands of items invented in America to improve our quality of life and create jobs for American workers are largely manufactured in other parts of the world. An important message for Americans is that we must return to being a country that makes more of what we buy not continue to be a nation buying so much of what we use on a regular basis from foreign countries.

Everyone is asked to promote the goal of the Buy American Made Campaign as we work together to restore no less than a 50/50 balance of the products sold in America being made in America again.

Help our efforts by looking for, asking for and shopping around for products made in the USA and support the country where you live while supporting American workers who also need jobs. Thanks for your participation.

Your comments and suggestions are always welcome. Email them to Michael@AmericanWorkersRadio.com

Michael Blichasz

Stop killing one another

It was mournful to hear that Philadelphia rapper LGP Qua, who had a good musical message and a role model attitude, was murdered in Juniata Park on Mother’s Day.

After watching the news of Qidere “LGP Qua” Johnson’s shooting, it is shocking that our very own people would target Qidere in that way. Knowing that he was probably in the neighborhood and just wanted to attack him.

It has been reported of a robbery gone wrong basically. It is terrible that someone who demonstrated leadership qualities of the City of Philadelphia was killed. His brand alone calling himself the voice of the youth was a strong message and used the platform to push change, too.

Our Philadelphia community needs to really come together. Meek Mill provided mentorship to LGP Qua. On Meek Mill’s social media, he said about Johnson being ambitious and to collect these guns off the streets because the gun violence is sad out here.

That is the type of messaging we need to have more often. The killings that keep involving our own race is just crazy and it has been for years.

We really do not have to be killing one another. Life is tough and has triumph and everything but the anger we hold sometimes is not good at all. Street therapy is needed more frequently in today’s time. 

Alim Howell

Dedication and commitment

As a retired teacher who taught for three decades in South Philly public schools, it was such fun to read Mark Zimmaro’s report on honors awarded eight area teachers (“Local teachers recognized for excellence,” May 14). Given all the challenges facing our communities these days, these educators are actually heroic.

According to Zimmaro’s report, all these teachers from different South Philadelphia schools were honored on May 6 with a Lindback Foundation award of $3,500 for going above and beyond their requirements to improve their students’ achievements. Am more than certain these awards were well deserved.

The list of those honored educators again includes Kyla Alexander, Jihee Choi, Nicole Digiuseppe, Adrienne Gordon, Luke Holtje, Carmen Massa, Gretchen Matteo and Jennifer L. Phillips.

We should all join the Lindback Foundation in expressing our gratitude to these exceptional educators for preparing their students to become future contributors to our community. It is more than about time to recognize such dedication and commitment. 

Gloria C. Endres